Apparatus for deparaffining oil wells



Dec. 24, 1940.

D. L. GARRETT APPARATUS FOR DEPARAFFINING OIL WELLS Filed Jan. 26, 1940 INVENTOR 74 wp l.. @w25/*r ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE David L. Garrett, Denver, Colo.

Application January 26, 1940, Serial No. 315,649

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for heating oil wells for the purpose of deparalning the same and for the purpose of melting any paraiiin that has accumulated in the pumps and other apparatus located therein.

It is well known that the ilow of liquid from the surrounding ground into oil wells producing oils containing paraffin and other hydrocarbons is often obstructed to a considerable extent by the accumulation of paraflln which clogs the fissures and pores of the rocks from which the oil issues and which accumulates in the bottom of the bore. In oil wells that produce an oil rich in paraiiin, the latter also accumulates on the sucker rods and in the pump pipes to such an extent that the operation of pumping is detrimentally affected. In oil wells having an oil of high paraffin content, the gradual accumulation of paraiiin finally seals the well so as to prevent further inlet of oil and in order to render such wells productive, it is necessary to heat the interior to a temperature suflicient to melt the parafn so that the latter can be removed from the passages Where the oil enters the well.

The paraining of wells has been recognized as a difficult problem and many different methods and types of apparatus have been developed for the purpose of rendering such wells productive after they have ceased to ilow. i

In United States Letters Patent No. 1,443,028, granted to McIntyre on January 23, 1923, an apparatus has been shown in which hot exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine are delivered to pipes that extend into the well to be deparafned. A pressure pump tends to force the hot gases through the pipes in the well and a suction pump tends to increase the flow of such gases by reducing the pressure at the exhaust end of the pipe.

It is the object of this invention to produce a heater of simple and substantial construction that can be substituted for the internal combustion engine disclosed in the patent above identified and which can be manufactured and installed at a very moderate cost.

Another object of this invention is to produce a heater and burner to be used in connection with apparatus for the purpose above identified, which can be readily transported from one place to another, and which'can be so positioned and insulated that a very small proportion of the heat will be lost.

Another object of this invention is to produce a burner and heater that shall be provided with means for properly adjusting the supply of air for combustion to such an extent as to obtain complete combustion of the gases or other fuel employed in the heating operation. l

A still further object is to produce a burner and heater in which means is provided for bypassing a portion of the air supplied in such a` way as to heat the same, but not to mix it with the air of combustion and in this manner to obtain a greater volume of uid than could be effectively obtained in an apparatus in which all of the air passed through the combustion charnber.

A still further object is to produce a heater having means for regulating the flow of gas and of air so as to obtain the maximum thermal eiliciency.

The above and other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail. and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the preferred form of the apparatus has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the apparatus in place in a well;

Figure 2 is a vertical diametrical section of the combined heater and burner;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3- 3, Figure 2, and shows the shape of the casing, the combustion chamber and the perforated partition on which the latter is supported;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship of the partition and annular damper;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the outer wall of the combustion chamber showing the relationship of the combustion chamber Wall and the movable damper associated therewith; and

Figure 6 is a section taken on line I--6, Figure 1, and shows the relative position of the heating pipes and the pump with relationship to the well.

In the drawing reference numeral l designates an oil well and reference numeral 8 designates the surface of the ground. The oil well is provided with a casing 9 that extends downwardly for some distance from the top. Reference numeral I0 designates the pipe of a pumping apparatus in which is positioned sucker rods II. For the purpose of heating the'interior of the well, two pipes I2 and I3 are inserted into the well to a. depth approaching the bottom thereof, Where they are connected by a Y coupling I4. A reservoir I5, is connected with the stem of the coupling I4 and has a removable cap I6. Attached to the upper end of pipe I2 is an exhaust ian I1 that is driven by a motor I8. Reference numeral I3 designates an exhaust pipe from the fan I1. The idea underlying this invention as above described, is to circulate gases which have been heated to a high temperature, through pipes I2 and I3 and for this purpose it is necessary to provide means for heating the gases before they enter the pipes.

In Figure 2 a diametrical longitudinal section of the burner and heater has been shown. Reference numeral 28 designates a tubular cylindrical casing to the ends-of which bell caps 2|l are attached. These caps are reducers and attached to the upper cap is an elbow 22. Air supply pipes 23 extend from the elbows 22 to a blower fan 24, which is driven by a motor 25. The lower bell cap is connected with the upper end of pipe I3. A foraminated partition 26 is positioned transversely of the tubular casing 28 and is attached to the same by some suitable means as by welding or by screws or pins which have not been shown. A pipe 21 is attached at its upper end to the under `surface of the partition 26 and extends downwardly to a point spaced a short distance above the bottom of casing 20. Extending upwardly from the partition 26 is a hollow frusto-conical member 28 which is preferably welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to the upper surface of the partition. A pipe 23 extends through the upper and smaller end of member 28 and is threadedly connected with an elbow 30. A gas supply pipe 3l extends through the casing and has its inner end connected with the elbow 38 in the manner clearly shown. The lower end of pipe 28 is chamfered as indicated by 3l. 'Ihe frusto-conical member 28 is provided with a plurality of openings 32 in the manner shown. Surrounding member 28 is a damper member 33 which is of the same ,shape and provided with openings that correspond in position with openings 32 in member 28. It will be seen from the drawing that the diameter of the lower end of member 28 is less than the inside diameter of casing 23 and since it is positioned concentrically within the casing an annular area of the partition extends beyond the outer wall of member 28.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that the periphery of the partition is provided with a plurality of spaced notches 34 which form paages for air and through which the' air flows in its movement from the upper to the lower compartment of the heater. A damper ring 35 is supported on the annular area of the partition and this is also provided with notches thatcorrespond in size and position with notches 34. When the notches in the ring and in the par-v tition are in register, the maximum opening area is obtained, but when the ring 35 is rotated relative to the partition, the eilective areas of openings 34 can be changed. For the purpose of adjusting the damper ring, a handle or bolt 36 is attached to the ring and extends through a slot 31 in the casing. 'I'his bolt is provided with a butterfly nut 38 which serves to hold the damper ring in adjusted position. Since it is also necessary to adjust the effective areas of the openings 32 through which air enters, the combustion chamber, a handle or bolt 39 is attached to the member 38 and projects through a slot in the wall of the housing in the same manner as shown and described in connection with the adjustment of ring 35. It is evidentthat by rotating member 33 on member 28, the eiective areas of openings 32 can be altered in a manner quite apparent from an inspection of Figure 5. Elbow 33 is provided' with a threaded opening 40 through which a valve stem 4I extends. The upper end of the valve stem is provided with a hand wheel 42. The valve stem extends .through the pipe 29 and terminates beneath'the latter in a spherical valve 43. It is evident that by moving the valve 43 towards and away from the chamfered surface 3l, the amount of fuel entering can be regulated. Gas pipe 3| is connected with a cylinder 44 that contains gas under pressure or with any other gas supply. The gas pipe 3I is also provided with a valve 45 which serves as a shutoff or auxiliary control. The air supply pipe 23 has a shutoi valve 46 by means of which the pressure of the air in the upper compartment ofcasing 2l can be adjusted to the extent required. One or more deector rings 41 are attached to the inner surface of the casing and provided with inwardly and downwardly inclined frusto-,conical flanges 48 which direct the air towards the outer surface of the combustion chamber wall. 'I'he casing is provided with a threaded opening 48 near the lower end thereof and this opening is closed by means of a plug 49. When the burner is to be lighted the plug 49 is removed and a lighted taper inserted and after the fuel has been ignited, the plug is replaced. In order to limit the loss of heat, the housing 2| is preferably surrounded by a heat insulator covering 58 as shown in Figure 1.

'I'he partition has a plurality of perforations 5I in the area enclosed by the lower end of the c'ombustion chamber housing 28.

Operation Let us now assume that an apparatus constructed as above described is in position in an oil well and the members connected as shown in Figure l. If fan 24 is operated, it produces an air pressure that tends to flow air into the burner and heater in the direction of arrow 52 in Figure 2. This air flows downwardly through the casing 28, a portion passing inwardly through openings 32 into the combustion chamber, and another portion passing through the openings 34 to the lower compartment of the casing; from thence the two streams of air combine and flow downwardly through pipe I3, thence through the connection I4, up through pipe I2, into fan I1 and into the atmosphere through Pipe I3. After the flow of air has been started, valve 45, and/or valve 43 is opened allowing fuel gas to enter and mix with the air. The mixture thus obtained is ignited through opening 43 as above explained. The various valves and openings are now adjusted so as to get the most desirable operation and thehighest thermal eiliciency.

After the parts have begun to function properly, fan I1 can be started, whereupon the suction produced by the latter fan combined with the pressure produced by fan 24 results in a very rapid circulation of air and gas of combustion. Since there is a limit to the amount of air that can be combined with the fuel, two paths have been provided for the air, a portion passing inwardly through openings 32 into the combustion chamber and another portion passing downwardly through openings 34. The latter air stream becomes highly heated in its passage around the combustion chamber and around pipe 21 and at the end of the latter it combines with the gaseous products of combustion and flows thence through the radiator pipes.

rIt is evident that substantially all of the heat generated within the burner will be carried into the well by the stream of heated gases and the rate of flow is adjusted so that the gases discharged through exhaust pipe |9 have been deprived of practically all of their heat which is therefore transferred to the interior of the well. The heat thus introduced into the well serves to raise the temperature of the surrounding wall sufliciently to melt any paraiiln that has solidied in crevices and pores and when this melts and flows into the well the surrounding oil will then have an opportunity to recommence its iiow. If the well is operated by a pump and provided with a pump pipe Ill and sucker rods Il, the heat will raise the temperature of the pipe and the sucker rods sufllcient to melt the paraffin and the latter will be removed with the oil by the operation of the pump. After the well has been heated so as to clear the same of solidified paramn the heater can be extinguished and removed to another location where such treatment is necessary.

From the above description it will be apparent that the apparatus described herein and illustrated on the drawing is of a simple and substantial construction; that it can be readily transported from place to place. The small initial cost makes it possible to employ this apparatus in connection with wells that would not warrant the expenditure of large amounts of money and this brings the benefits from deparafiining operations within the reach of practically all oil well owners.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus for the production of a heated gaseous fluid, a burner and heater comprising an'elongated tubular casing having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the other end, a transverse partition dividing the interior into two compartments, a combustion chamber positioned in the casing on the air inlet side of the partition, a gas supply pipe opening into the combustion chamber, valve means in the gas supply pipe for controlling the flow of gas, the wall of the combustion chamber and the partition forming the bottom thereof being foraminated, and means accessible on the outside of the casing for varying the areas of the openings in the combustion chamber Walls to regulate the flow of air thereinto.

2. In an apparatus for the production of a heated gaseous iiuid, a burner and a heater comprising in combination, an elongated tubular casing having one end provided with an air inlet and the other with an outlet opening, means connected with the inlet opening for producing a flow of air through the casing, a transverse partition dividing the interior` of the casing into two compartments, said partition having openings for the passage of fluid, a'combustion chamber housing positioned on the intake side of the partition, the latter forming the bottom oi' the combustion chamber, a gas supply pipe extending through the wall of the casing and terminating within the combustion chamber, the Wall of the combustion chamber having openings for the admission of air, means for changing the sizes of the openings to regulate the ilow of air into the combustion chamber, the partition being of greater cross sectional area than the housing which forms the combustion chamber, that part of the partition positioned outside oi the combustion chamber having openings, and damper means adjustable from the outside of the casing for varying the eiective arcas of the last mentioned openings.

3. In apparatus for the production of heated gaseous fluid, a burner and heater comprising in combination, an elongated casing having an air inlet in one end and an outlet opening in the other end, a ,foraminated-transverse partition dividing the interior of the casing into two compartments, a hollow combustion chamber housing member positioned in the compartment having the air inlet, the partition forming a closure for one end of the housing, the partition having a greater cross sectional area than the combustion chamber whereby certain portions thereof will be positioned outside of the combustion chamber housing, a gas supply pipe extending through the wall of the casing and into the interior of the housing, valve means for controlling the iiow of gas through the pipe, a damper member surrounding the housing member and mounted for rotation thereon, the housing and the damper member having openings that register when the two occupy predetermined relative positions, means accessible from the outside of the casing for moving the damper member to vary the effective areas of the openings, that part of the partition located outside of the combustion chamber housing having openings through which air may pass from one compartment to the other, and means for varying the eiective areas of the last named openings, said means comprising a movable damper element, and means accessible from the outside of the casing for moving the damper element.

4. A burner and heater for use in the production of a heated gas. comprising in combination, an elongated casing having an air intake opening in one end and an outlet opening in the other of, a correspondingly shaped member positioned on the outside of the frusto-conical housing member, the two last named members having openings-which are in register when they are in a predetermined relative position, means accessible from the outside of the casing for rotating the outer member on the inner one 'to vary the eii'ective areas of the openings, the larger end oi' the outer frusta-conical housing member being of less diameter than the inside of the casing whereby an annular area oi the partition is exposed, said area having openings connecting the two compartmenfts, a ring supported on `the annular area, said ring having openings that register with the corresponding openings in the partition in one rotary position, and means comprising a handle attached to the ring and extending through the casing for shifting the ring relative to the partition to vary the effective areas of the openings.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of frusto-conical deilector rings are attached to the inside of the casing, the smaller openings in the rings being larger than the outside of the combustion chamber, the rings being inwardly inclined towards the partition whereby air iiowing through the casing will be directed towards the outside of the combustion chamber.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which a plurality of deflector rings are attached to the. inside of the casing, the openings in the rings being larger than the outside 0I the com- CFI bustion chamber, the rings beinginwardly inclined towards the partition whereby air owing .through the casing will be directed towards the rings are attached to the inside of the casing,

the openings in the rings being smaller than the outside of the combustion chamber housing member, the rings being inwardly inclined in the direction of the partition whereby air flowing through the casing will be directed towards the outside of the combustion chamber.

9. A burner and heater for use in the production of a heated gas, comprising in combination, an elongated tubular casing having an air intake at one end and an outlet at the other end, a foraminated partition extending across the interior of the casing and dividing it into an upper and a lower compartment in communication with the air inlet and the outlet openings, a hollow combustion chamber housing member of circular cross section having one end seated on the partition which serves as a closure therefor, a gas supply pipe extending through the casing wall and terminating within 'the combustion chamber, a. damper member surrounding the combustion chamber housing member, said members having Yopenings that are in register with each other when the members are in one position, means comprising a handle accessible from the outside of the casing for effecting relative movement of the members, the outside diameter of the combustion housing being less than the inside diamseter of the casing whereby an annular area oI the partition is exposed, said annular portion having a plurality of openings, a damper ring supported on 4the annular area, the ring and partition having openings that are in register when the parts are in one position and means comprising a handle secured to the ring and projecting through an opening in the casing wall for adjusting the ring relative to the annular area of the partition.

DAVID L. GARREIT. 

